I've been hearing about the Discover it® Cash Back for years, and finally applied for one this summer.
This card is one of Business Insider's picks for our no-annual-fee credit card for two specific reasons: New cardholders get 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR), and double their cash-back at the end of their first year.
$0
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Earn Unlimited Cashback Match®
Good to Excellent
- From April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, earn 5% cash back at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren't convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
The Discover it® Cash Back is one of the best credit cards that offers 5% back on popular rotating categories each quarter up to a spending limit when activated. Your rewards are matched by Discover after the first 12 months, and the card has no annual fee.
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs, April 1 through June 30, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases, when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with your digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
What I Like Best
I got this credit card because I wanted cash back and 0% intro APR. But my favorite aspects of the Discover it® Cash Back have been a pleasant surprise for me.
Instant Credit Card Number
Discover instantly approved me for the Discover it® Cash Back, and immediately offered me access to my new credit card number while I waited for the physical product to appear in the mail. This perk is a "nice to have" in most cases, but can be a "need to have" if you need to make a large or unexpected transaction on short notice. I didn't need-need it this time, but did use my new card to pay for dinner via Apple Wallet mere minutes after I was approved.
User-Friendly App and Account Dashboard
I have dozens of credit cards and bank accounts, so I've become something of a financial website and app connoisseur. The Discover website and consumer app are pleasantly intuitive and user-friendly, a feature I deeply appreciate from my credit card issuers. Both portals are sleek and contemporary, a feature my fellow Millennial or Gen Z consumers will appreciate.
In fact, Discover's layout might be my new favorite amongst bank apps. I've become a big fan of Face ID for phone log-ins, and I was able to quickly set up and use this feature on the Discover app. I also like the single-page overview format, which allows me to scroll for the information I want instead of blindly clicking through multiple tabs.
The landing page shows me at a glance how much of a balance I'm carrying, and how much of my credit limit is still available for use. I can also see how much cash back I've already earned — a feature that's much less prominent from Chase or Amex. For more granular detail, the payments, rewards, and services tab quickly show me most of the other information I need including contact information for Discover customer support.
5% Bonus Categories
I like getting a good deal when I shop, and I don't mind expending a little extra brainpower at checkout. I wanted to get the Discover it® Cash Back because it earn 5% back on bonus categories that change every few months (from April 1 to June 30, 2025, earn 5% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%). I track these rotations using the Chase Freedom Flex® in my wallet that also earns 5% cash back on FICO credit score at any time within the Discover app activity page by scrolling down to the Card Benefits section and clicking on my "FICO Credit Scorecard".
Low to No Fees (and First Late Payment Waived)
Discover typically offers low fees on credit card and best credit cards with travel insurance.
FAQs
What credit score do I need to be approved for the Discover it® Cash Back?
The Discover it® Cash Back card is a good choice for those with credit scores in the good to excellent range — a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700.
What is Discover Cashback Match?
When you open an eligible new Discover card, the Discover Cashback Match® program will match all the rewards you earned after the first 12 months with no caps, including your bonus category rewards.
Is there a limit on cash back with the Discover it® Cash Back?
The Discover it® Cash Back caps 5% bonuses at a maximum of $1,500 spent across all bonus categories each quarter (or $75 cash back total). All other transactions earn unlimited 1% cash back per dollar spent, including on bonus categories after the $1,500 threshold has been met.
Is the Discover it® Cash Back a good card?
The Discover it® Cash Back is a great card if you prefer earning cash back instead of travel points and don't want to pay an annual fee. It can also be a good pick if the quarterly bonus categories match up with your spending. People who want extra benefits such as annual travel credits should consider other credit cards with better rewards.
How does 5% cash back on the Discover it® Cash Back work?
Every quarter, the Discover it® Cash Back offers new bonus categories that earn 5% cash back per dollar spent. These categories typically cover common expenses such as gas, groceries, Amazon, Paypal, or Target purchases. You must activate the promotion via your online account dashboard or the Discover app before you qualify for the 5x bonus. Rewards are capped at 5% of $1,500 spent across all bonus categories each quarter. After that, your earning rate drops back down to 1% per dollar spent.
How long does it take to get cash back from Discover?
You'll typically earn cash back within days of the transaction posting to your credit card statement, although Discover says rewards can take up to two billing cycles to appear on your account.
Why You Should Trust Me
When evaluating the Discover it® Cash Back, I considered the card's annual fee, welcome bonus, rewards, benefits, and how well it stacks up to similar credit cards like the
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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